Overview

Forget Breaking Bad, this is the extraordinary story of the 1970s Welsh LSD ring that supplied the world, told by a cop in deepest cover on the case. Life undercover was one great adrenaline rush fuelled by copious amounts of alcohol, hash, weed and some cocaine. I was off the leash. In the mid-1970s, at the age of 29, Stephen Bentley, a fresh-faced detective, turned himself into Steve Jackson, a dope-smoking, hard-drinking hippie. His time spent undercover with a gang making and distributing LSD helped bring down two criminal networks - but the operation also led to deep personal aftershocks felt long after the case closed. As we get up-close-and-personal with the people who were the operators of the drug supply chain that fuelled 70s counter-culture, the story becomes laden with heavy drug-taking, blurred lines between cop, criminal and friend, and creeping doubts about who Steve really is. Taking us into the unlikely setting of the rural Welsh valleys and infiltrating the gang that was responsible for about 90% of the LSD production in the UK, Steve Bentley's insider account shows what it really takes to go undercover - to befriend, to betray and to bury your sense of self. Now in development as an 8-part TV series.

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9786219619035

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Reviews

"'Undercover Operation Julie - The Inside Story, ' documents everyday life of undercover work as the author, Stephen Bentley, won the confidence of the gang members. Bentley tells in his book how he built a ""perfect"" relationship with Smiles, an important gang member. But this friendship almost undermined the whole operation.- Dominic Blake, BBC News England, October 2, 2016.'The fascinating and extraordinary inside story from the man who was actually there.' - Rob Gittins, Screenwriter and Novelist, Writer of 'Julie' BBC Drama"

'Undercover Operation Julie - The Inside Story, ' documents everyday life of undercover work as the author, Stephen Bentley, won the confidence of the gang members. Bentley tells in his book how he built a perfect relationship with Smiles, an important gang member. But this friendship almost undermined the whole operation.- Dominic Blake, BBC News England, October 2, 2016. This is an enlightening account of the war on drugs. - InD'Tale Magazine Compelling insight to the life, mental make-up and identity confusion of someone deep undercover ... - Goodreads '... initially thought the book was going to be very dry and dreary. I was quite wrong. Once I started on the main content, I had difficulty putting it down... I found this to be a very worthwhile book to read, it made me think and was an eye opener to the risks undertaken by this group of very brave men.' - Yvonne Probert, Review Spot UK One of my favourite reads of 2017 - Goodreads The UK's Donnie Brasco; A must read - Goodreads 'This book will appeal to those interested in the police & how they work undercover. Hopefully lessons have now been learnt.' - Margaret Joel, Review Spot UK 'A very absorbing and engrossing story. Highly recommended!' - Patricia Humm, Review Spot UK 'In short, Operation Julie would have made a remarkable work of fiction, if only it had never happened.' - Marilyn Chapman, Review Spot UK

'Undercover Operation Julie - The Inside Story, ' documents everyday life of undercover work as the author, Stephen Bentley, won the confidence of the gang members. Bentley tells in his book how he built a perfect relationship with Smiles, an important gang member. But this friendship almost undermined the whole operation.- Dominic Blake, BBC News England, October 2, 2016.'The fascinating and extraordinary inside story from the man who was actually there.' - Rob Gittins, Screenwriter and Novelist, Writer of 'Julie' BBC Drama

Author Information

Stephen Bentley is a former British police Detective Sergeant and barrister (trial attorney). He is now a freelance writer, author of many books, and an occasional contributor to Huffington Post UK on undercover policing, and mental health issues.

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